The private salon is a small room with a long memory. The same players return, the same dealers work the tables, and the same hosts watch the floor. Reputation travels fast in that world, and the unwritten rules of behaviour matter as much as the size of your bets. A player who follows the code is welcomed back; a player who breaks it finds the invitations drying up, whatever their bankroll.

Dress is the first rule, and it is the easiest to get right. Private salons expect smart, formal dress: a jacket at minimum in the evening, and full evening dress in places like Monte-Carlo. The rule is not about fashion; it is about showing respect for the room and the other players. Arriving in casual clothes signals that you do not take the setting seriously, and in the strictest rooms it will keep you out entirely.

At the table, the code is about restraint. Do not touch the cards unless you are the designated player. Do not reach across the table or lean over another player's space. Do not comment on how others bet, and never celebrate when another player loses. The room is full of people risking large sums, and the shared understanding is that everyone deserves quiet and space to play their own game.

Tipping is expected, and the amounts reflect the stakes. Dealers and floor staff in private salons are tipped by players, usually in chips, and the convention is to tip when you win a significant hand and at the end of a session. There is no fixed percentage, but a player who never tips is noticed, and a player who tips generously is remembered. The host team also appreciates recognition, though the best way to thank a host is to keep playing at their property.

Phone use is the modern fault line. Most private salons restrict phones at the table, both for security and for the atmosphere. A player taking calls, photographing the table, or filming other players will be asked to stop, and persistent offenders will be asked to leave. The rule protects everyone in the room, including you: nobody wants their face or their losses recorded by a stranger.

The host relationship has its own etiquette. A good host will arrange rooms, dining, and transport, and will use discretion to authorise comps. In return, the host expects honesty about your plans and your play. Tell your host when you are arriving, what you want, and how long you are staying. Do not ask one host for something and then ask another property's host for the same thing, and do not use a host's generosity as leverage against a rival casino.

Money talk is kept private. Do not discuss the size of your credit line, your wins, or your losses with other players, and do not ask others about theirs. The salon runs on discretion, and the players who last in it are the ones who treat their finances as their own business. Boasting about a win is as bad as complaining about a loss: both mark you as someone who does not understand the room.

Losing with grace is the hardest rule and the most important. A bad run at high stakes is painful, and the room can see it. The players who are respected are the ones who accept the result, settle their markers, thank the dealer, and leave. Chasing losses loudly, blaming the dealer, or demanding rule changes are the fastest ways to lose standing. The casino will remember how you lost far longer than it remembers that you lost.

Newcomers should watch before they act. Spend your first session in a private room observing the pace, the tipping, and the way regulars interact with the staff. Ask your host about anything you are unsure of; that is what the host is for. The regulars will notice a newcomer who is careful far sooner than one who is loud, and careful is the reputation you want.

Etiquette in the private salon is not snobbery. It is the set of habits that lets a room full of strangers risk large sums together without friction. Follow it, and the doors stay open.

Q: Do I have to dress formally in a private salon? A: Yes, in most cases. Smart, formal dress is expected, and the strictest rooms, such as Monte-Carlo's Salon Privé, enforce an evening dress code.

Q: How much should I tip in a private salon? A: There is no fixed rule, but tipping in chips on significant wins and at the end of a session is expected. Players who never tip are noticed.

Q: Can I use my phone at the table? A: Generally no. Most private salons restrict phones at the table, and photographing or filming other players is not tolerated.